Humanity has built marvels of technology, engineering, and intellectual prowess. We have accomplished incredible things. Our collective intelligence astounds us. Yet, in our pursuit of progress, we often overlook the intricate relationships of the natural world – a world we do not fully understand or hope to control. Perhaps it’s time to humble ourselves and learn from our original teacher – Mother Nature.
Nature-Based solutions (NBS) use natural processes to support and protect ecosystems and people simultaneously. It seems a rather straightforward concept, but its applications are so highly adaptable, diverse and flexible. Some of the most unexpected ecological and climate success stories are found in nature’s playbook.
The natural world has an exceptional capacity for self-regulation. The global ecosystem operates off a series of checks and balances to maintain stability. It is when those natural processes are interfered with that problems develop. Working with nature to restore balance in disrupted systems is our best bet for achieving a sustainable society.
30-40% of carbon dioxide mitigation needed to keep global temperature increase under 2°C is achievable through the use of NBS at a fraction of the cost. Solutions to many pressing challenges are readily available if we heed nature’s wisdom.
NBS projects not only benefit biodiversity but also address societal issues. You do not have to love nature to see the value in NBS. Its applications are cheaper, more accessible, and require less maintenance once established. They offer long-term solutions that extend far beyond ecological benefits.
Many environmental problems can be solved by planting trees. Poor air quality? Plant trees. Soil erosion and degradation? Plant trees. Habitat loss? Plant trees. Extreme temperatures? Plant trees. Mental health crisis epidemic? Plant trees. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere? Plant trees. What a simple and comparatively safe thing to do. Planting trees is the original NBS.
A lot of NBS programs come in the form of habitat restoration. Fully functioning and healthy ecosystems are more resilient and capable of supporting life as we know it through great environmental change.
For instance, wetlands are being protected and established as one of the most effective ways to trap carbon and absorb flooding to protect homes and communities. Mangrove habitats protect from coastal erosion, a buffer in severe weather, a raw material resource, and an unparalleled marine nursery for ecologically and economically important fish.
The added benefits of NBS range far beyond the direct issues they often are used to solve. Using honeybees to ward off elephants from African farmland not only protected farmers and their livelihoods, it also protected elephant and pollinator populations as well as offered additional income in the form of ‘Elephant-Friendly honey’ for farmers.
In the U.S., President Roosevelt said that the 1930s Dust Bowl “was the greatest environmental disaster” in American history. The Dust Bowl was essentially solved by planting a stand of trees from Mexico to Canada. There was no great technological advancement. Just people out there planting 200 million trees to protect the soil of America’s breadbasket. But – you guessed it – these trees did so much more than keep the soil on the ground and off of the White House lawn. They also helped retain moisture in the soil, regulate temperature, and promote birds that reduce agriculturally damaging insect populations.
The concept of NBS isn’t new; many Indigenous cultures historically employed these practices. It’s a proven, sustainable approach deeply rooted in evolutionary principles, applicable universally. It does not come with alternative agendas or hidden long-term consequences. We are simply helping nature what it does best.
The awareness and acceptance of NBS is rapidly growing. In 2022, the Biden administration released a comprehensive guide to the development and fostering of NBS in federal operations. This is a critical leap forward in acknowledging the importance of sustainable and conscious decision-making.
Do not be overwhelmed by the magnitude of our environmental problems. We have a toolkit that has been refined for billions of years. We have a powerful partner in our natural world. So instead of fighting an uphill battle against our greatest ally, why don’t we secure a sustainable future for us all?
If you found this interesting, check out my case study review on NBS as a tool for island climate change resilience.